JP6732683B2 - Audio equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an audio device that performs a reproduction operation using audio information input from an external device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an audio reproducing device in which a portable device is connected to an audio device and a music sound is output from the audio device at the same level of volume as that output from the portable device (for example, See Patent Document 1.). In this audio playback device, the audio device inquires of the portable device about the volume setting value, and sets the volume corresponding to the obtained volume setting value, whereby the same level as the level output from the portable device is set. Musical sound can be output from the speaker of the audio device at a volume level.

JP, 2010-86603, A

By the way, in the audio reproducing apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the output volume is set to silence (mute) or the output volume is set to be extremely low in the portable apparatus, the output of the audio apparatus is output. The volume also becomes silent or extremely low. In such a case, the user has not performed an appropriate playback instruction operation, because the output volume of the audio device is silent because the output volume of the portable device is set to silence, etc. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish whether the output volume of the audio device is silent or the like, and it takes time to realize that the setting of the output volume of the portable device is inappropriate.

The present invention was created in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to make the output volume of an audio device silent or extremely low because the volume setting of a portable device (external device) is inappropriate. An object of the present invention is to provide an audio device capable of shortening the time required to notice that there is an audio device.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an audio device of the present invention is an audio device that receives audio information generated by a reproduction operation by an external device and outputs an audio sound corresponding to the audio information. Audio reproduction means for generating a corresponding audio sound based on audio information input from the device, reproduction information acquisition means for acquiring reproduction information indicating a reproduction state in an external device, and reproduction information acquired by the reproduction information acquisition means The reproduction state determining means for determining the reproduction state of the external device based on the above, the volume determining means for determining the volume level based on the audio information input from the external device, and the external state during the reproduction operation by the reproduction state determining means. And a notification means for performing a predetermined notification when the volume level determined by the volume determination means is smaller than a predetermined value.

As a result, when the volume level of the external device is low even though the external device is in the playback operation, the user of the audio device is notified and the volume setting of the external device is inappropriate. It is possible to shorten the time until the output volume becomes silent or extremely low.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned notifying unit makes a notification for confirming or changing the set volume during the reproducing operation of the external device. As a result, it is possible to surely inform the user that the volume setting of the external device is inappropriate and that an operation for changing the volume is necessary for that purpose.

In addition, the above-mentioned reproduction information includes reproduction state information indicating whether the external device is in a reproducing operation or stopped, and the reproduction state determining means determines the external device based on the reproduction state information. It is desirable to judge the playback status. As a result, the audio device side can surely know that the external device is in the reproducing operation.

Further, the above-mentioned reproduction information includes reproduction state information indicating whether the external device is in the reproduction operation or stopped and reproduction time information indicating the reproduction time in the reproduction operation. It is preferable that the means determines the reproduction state of the external device based on the reproduction state information and the reproduction time information. This makes it possible to more accurately determine that the external device is in the reproducing operation.

Further, it is desirable that the set volume during the reproduction operation of the external device described above can be changed by using the operation unit provided in the external device. The user who receives the notification can quickly perform the volume change operation on such an external device.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the audio device of one embodiment. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a notification operation performed in the audio device.

An audio device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an audio device according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the audio device 100 includes an operation unit 10, a touch panel 12, an input control unit 14, a display processing unit 20, a display device 22, a digital-analog converter (D/A) 30, a speaker 32, and a BT(. A Bluetooth (registered trademark) unit 40 and a control unit 60 are provided.

This audio device 100 is for carrying out audio reproduction in cooperation with an external device 200 connected by Bluetooth, and is installed in a vehicle. As the external device 200, a mobile terminal device called a smartphone, a mobile information terminal (PDA, Personal Digital Assistants), a mobile audio device, or the like is assumed, and has a function of reproducing audio data.

The operation unit 10 is for receiving a user's operation on the audio device 100, and includes various operation keys, operation switches, operation knobs and the like arranged around the display device 22. Further, when various operation screens and input screens are displayed on the display device 22, the user directly points a part of these operation screens and input screens with his/her finger or the like, so that the display items of the operation screens and input screens are displayed. The touch panel 12 for detecting the position of the finger or the like pointed to is provided in order to enable the operation using such an operation screen or input screen. Instead of using the touch panel 12, a remote control unit or the like may be used to select a part of the operation screen or the input screen according to a user's instruction. The input control unit 14 monitors the operation unit 10 and the touch panel 12 and determines the operation contents thereof.

The display processing unit 20 outputs video signals for displaying various operation screens, input screens, etc., and displays these screens on the display device 22. The display device 22 is installed in the center front of the driver's seat and the passenger seat, and is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LCD).

The digital-analog converter 30 converts audio data generated by audio reproduction into an analog audio signal (audio sound) and outputs it from the speaker 32. Although an amplifier for amplifying a signal is actually connected between the digital-analog converter 30 and the speaker 32, this amplifier is omitted in FIG. Further, although there are as many combinations of the digital-analog converter 30 and the speaker 32 as there are reproduction channels, only one set is shown in FIG.

The BT unit 40 is a communication device (Bluetooth device) that transmits and receives audio information and reproduction information (reproduction state information, reproduction time information) and the like between the audio device 100 and the external device 200 according to the Bluetooth standard. The BT unit 40 includes hardware required for wireless communication and various processing units required for controlling the hardware to perform pairing setting and wireless connection. The BT unit 40 performs various processes necessary for detecting the external device 200 and wireless connection using Bluetooth.

The control unit 60 controls the entire audio device 100 to perform various processes related to audio reproduction, and various processes are performed by executing a predetermined application (program) stored in a ROM, a RAM, or the like by the CPU. Is realized. The control unit 60 includes a BT audio reproduction unit 61, a reproduction information acquisition unit 62, a reproduction state determination unit 63, a volume determination unit 64, a notification unit 65, and a BT processing unit 66.

The BT audio reproduction unit 61 receives audio information from the external device 200 connected to the BT unit 40, performs decoding processing corresponding to the encoding processing used when generating this audio information, and generates audio sound ( Audio playback). In the present embodiment, the audio information transmitted from the external device 200 is generated by the encoding process in consideration of the volume level set using the external device 200. Therefore, if the external device 200 is set to have no sound or an extremely low volume, the BT audio reproducing unit 61 generates the audio sound even if the audio sound is generated using the audio information sent from the external device 200. The audio sound will be silent or quiet. In the present embodiment, the set volume during the reproduction operation of the external device 200 can be changed by using the operation unit provided in the external device 200. Therefore, in order to eliminate such a situation (silence or low volume), it is necessary to operate the operation unit provided in the external device 200 to cancel the silence state or increase the set volume.

The reproduction information acquisition unit 62 acquires reproduction information indicating the reproduction state of the external device 200 from the external device 200. This reproduction information includes reproduction state information indicating whether the external device is in the reproduction operation or stopped (including pause), and reproduction time information indicating the reproduction time in the reproduction operation. .. Further, the reproduction time information includes the reproduction time of the entire music piece and the reproduction elapsed time during the reproduction operation. In addition, in the present embodiment, both the reproduction state information and the reproduction time information are used as the reproduction information, but only the reproduction state information (or the reproduction time information) may be used.

The reproduction state determination unit 63 determines the reproduction state (reproducing or stopped) of the external device 200 based on the reproduction information acquired by the reproduction information acquisition unit 62. The volume determination unit 64 determines the volume level based on the audio information (data before or after decoding by the BT audio reproduction unit 61) input from the external device 200.

The notification unit 65 performs a predetermined notification when the reproduction state determination unit 63 determines that the external device 200 is being reproduced and the volume level determined by the volume determination unit 64 is smaller than a predetermined value. I do. This notification includes a display and a sound for confirming the set volume during the reproduction operation of the external device 200 or prompting the user to change the set volume.

The BT processing unit 66 performs processing required when performing pairing setting with the external device 200 or the like. For example, when performing the pairing setting with the external device 200, the BT processing unit 66 performs a process of instructing the BT unit 40 to start the pairing setting and a process of designating the passcode assigned to the external device 200. Done.

The BT audio reproduction unit 61 described above is an audio reproduction unit, the reproduction information acquisition unit 62 is a reproduction information acquisition unit, the reproduction state determination unit 63 is a reproduction state determination unit, the volume determination unit 64 is a volume determination unit, and the notification unit 65. Respectively correspond to the notification means.

The audio device 100 of the present embodiment has such a configuration. Next, when audio reproduction is performed in the audio device 100, a notification operation performed when the set volume of the external device 200 is silent or extremely low. Will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the notification operation performed in the audio device 100. This operation procedure is performed in parallel with the audio reproduction operation in the audio device 100.

First, the reproduction information acquisition unit 62 acquires reproduction information (reproduction state information, reproduction time information) from the external device 200 via the BT unit 40 (step 100). In addition, the reproduction state determination unit 63 determines whether the external device 200 is performing a reproduction operation based on the acquired reproduction information (step 102). If the reproduction operation is not in progress (in the stopped state or the paused state), a negative determination is made, and the process returns to step 100 to repeat the reproduction information acquisition operation.

Further, when the reproduction state of the external device 200 is the reproduction operation, a positive determination is made in the determination in step 102. Next, the volume determination unit 64 detects the volume level based on the audio information generated by the reproduction operation of the external device 200 and sent to the audio device 100 (step 104). The operation of detecting the volume level may be performed in parallel with the operation of determining whether or not the reproducing operation is being performed in step 102, or the order may be changed.

Next, the volume determination unit 64 determines whether or not the detected volume level is lower than a predetermined value (step 106). If the volume level is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 100 and the reproduction information acquisition operation is repeated. If the volume level is lower than the predetermined value, an affirmative decision is made in the decision at step 106. Next, the notification unit 65 gives a predetermined notification to the user of the audio device 100 (step 108).

As a specific example of this notification, when a message such as “Check the set volume of the external device” or “Change the set volume of the external device” is displayed on a part of the display device 22, or It is conceivable that a voice for reading out these message sentences is output from the speaker 32, or that these message sentences are displayed and output at the same time.

As described above, in the audio device 100 according to the present embodiment, when the volume level is low even though the external device 200 is performing the reproducing operation, the user of the audio device 100 is notified to notify the external device. It is possible to shorten the time until the output volume of the audio device 100 becomes silent or extremely low because the volume setting of 200 is inappropriate.

Further, by notifying the confirmation or change of the set volume during the reproduction operation of the external device 200, it is possible to confirm that the volume setting of the external device 200 is inappropriate and that the operation for changing the volume is necessary for that purpose. It is possible to notify the user without fail.

In addition, the reproduction information acquired from the external device 200 includes reproduction state information indicating whether the external device 200 is in the reproduction operation or in the stop state, so that the reproduction information indicating that the external device 200 is in the audio operation is detected. It can be surely known on the device 100 side.

In addition, the reproduction information acquired from the external device 200 should include both reproduction state information indicating whether the external device 200 is performing a reproduction operation or stopped and reproduction time information indicating a reproduction time in the reproduction operation. Thus, it is possible to more accurately determine that the external device 200 is in the reproducing operation.

Further, the set volume during the reproduction operation of the external device 200 can be changed by using the operation unit provided in the external device 200, and the user who receives the notification changes the volume of the external device 200. The operation of can be performed quickly.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the audio device 100 mounted on the vehicle has been described, but the present invention can be applied to an audio device used at home or outdoors other than the vehicle.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the Bluetooth connection is made between the audio device 100 and the external device 200, but the connection via the USB cable, the connection via the wireless LAN, or the connection using another method. May be used. When audio information is generated at the volume set on the external device 200 side and sent to the audio device 100, the present invention can be applied regardless of which connection form is used.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the volume level is low even though the external device is in the reproducing operation, the volume setting of the external device is performed by notifying the user of the audio device. It is possible to shorten the time until the output volume of the audio device becomes silent or extremely low due to inappropriateness.

22 display device 60 control unit 61 BT audio reproduction unit 62 reproduction information acquisition unit 63 reproduction state determination unit 64 volume determination unit 65 notification unit 66 BT processing unit 100 audio device 200 external device

Claims (5)

In an audio device that receives audio information generated by a reproduction operation by an external device and outputs an audio sound corresponding to this audio information,
Audio reproducing means for generating a corresponding audio sound based on audio information input from the external device;
Reproduction information acquisition means for acquiring reproduction information indicating a reproduction state in the external device,
Based on the reproduction information acquired by the reproduction information acquisition unit, a reproduction state determination unit that determines the reproduction state of the external device,
Volume determination means for determining a volume level based on audio information input from the external device,
Notifying means for making a predetermined notification when the reproduction state judging means judges that the external device is in the reproducing operation and the volume level judged by the volume judging means is smaller than a predetermined value. When,
An audio device comprising: The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit makes a notification prompting confirmation or change of a set volume during a reproduction operation of the external device. The reproduction information includes reproduction state information indicating whether the external device is in reproduction operation or stopped,
3. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction state determination means determines the reproduction state of the external device based on the reproduction state information. The reproduction information includes reproduction state information indicating whether the external device is in a reproduction operation or stopped, and reproduction time information indicating a reproduction time in the reproduction operation,
4. The audio apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reproduction state determination means determines the reproduction state of the external device based on the reproduction state information and the reproduction time information. The audio device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the set volume during the reproduction operation of the external device can be changed by using an operation unit provided in the external device.

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