3
`
`{amt
`European
`patent Ottico
`Office eurepéen 3
`des brevets
`
`(19>
`
`(12)
`
`IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`
`(11)
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`26.09.2018 Bulletin 2018/39
`
`(21) Application number: 181619305
`
`(22) Date of filing: 15.03.2018
`
`(51) Int Cl.:
`H04W 4/80 (2018-01)
`H04R 5/033 (2005“)
`
`GOGF 3/16 (2006-01)
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB
`GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
`PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
`
`Designated Extension States:
`BA ME
`
`Designated Validation States:
`KH MA MD TN
`
`(30) Priority: 24.03.2017 KR 20170037889
`
`
`
`(71) Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
`Gyeonggi-do 16677 (KR)
`
`(72) Inventor: RYU, Kyu-Sang
`16677 Suwon-si, (KR)
`
`(74) Representative: HGF Limited
`Saviour House
`
`9 St. Saviourgate
`York YO1 SNQ (GB)
`
`(54)
`
`METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING AUDIO DATA TO MULTIPLE
`EXTERNAL DEVICES
`
`Methods and apparatuses are provided for
`(57)
`transmitting audio data to multiple external devices by
`an electronic device. Using a wireless communication
`circuit of the electronic device, a first wireless channel is
`established with a first external device. Using the wireless
`communication circuit, a second wireless channel is es-
`tablished with a second external device. A processor of
`the electronic device selects a codec supported by both
`the first external device and the second external device
`
`from among a plurality of codecs for processing audio
`data stored in a memory of the electronic device. The
`processor processes the audio data using the selected
`codec. Using the wireless communication circuit,
`the
`processed audio data is transmitted to the first external
`device via the first wireless channel and to the second
`
`external device via the second wireless channel using
`the wireless communication circuit.
`
`101ll
`
`
`/100
`’(V
`
`
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`APPLICATION PROGRAMMING N1 45
`
`INTERFACE (API)
`
`MIDDLEWARE
`KERNEL
`
`~143
`M141
`
`VIAT'
`
`140
`
`”
`
`_ \
`
`
`
`ELECTRONIC DEVICE
`
`120
`
`130
`
`/
`
`7
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`MEMORY
`
`\ ‘ “ \ L \
`
`
`
`110
`8
`BUS
`
`DISPLAY
`
`K
`160
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`INTERFACE
`
`150
`
`EP3379853A1
`
`ELECTRONIC
`COMMUNICATION
`
`DEVICE
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SERVER
`
`106
`
`ELECTRONIC
`DEVICE
`
`"102
`
`FIG.1
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`

`

`1
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`2
`
`Description
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Field of the Disclosure
`
`{0001} Embodiments of the present disclosure relate
`to methods and electronic devices for transmitting audio
`data to multiple external devices.
`
`2. Discussion of the Related Art
`
`{0002} Recent wide—spread use of electronic devices
`supportive of short-range wireless communication, such
`as, for example, Bluetooth communication, is leading to
`a growing use of media streaming services among the
`electronic devices via short-range wireless communica-
`tion.
`
`For example, an electronic device supportive of
`{0003}
`Bluetooth communication may transmit audio data to an
`external electronic device (e.g., a headset, a speaker,
`earphones, or a smartphone) connected via Bluetooth
`communication using the advanced audio distribution
`profile (AZDP), and the external electronic device may
`receive and output the audio data. The external electronic
`device may control playback-related functions (e.g., play,
`pause, skip, volume control, and/or mute) of the playing
`audio data.
`
`{0004} An electronic device supporting short-range
`wireless communication, such as, forexample, Bluetooth
`communication, may be connected to multiple external
`devices via Bluetooth communication. When the multiple
`external devices use different codecs to process audio
`data received from the electronic device via Bluetooth
`
`communication, a problem may arise as the electronic
`device transmits audio data to the multiple external de—
`vices for audio streaming.
`{0005} Bluetooth communication is performed within a
`limited frequency band, and the amount ofdata transmit-
`ted is limited. Thus, if the electronic device transmits au—
`dio data to each external device, the amount of data
`transmitted increases, resulting in possible quality dete-
`rioration (e.g., sound drops) of audio output from the ex-
`ternal devices.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`{0006} According to aspects of the present disclosure,
`an electronic device and a method are provided fortrans—
`mitting audio data to multiple external devices through
`Bluetooth communication.
`
`{0007} Accordingly, an aspect ofthe present disclosure
`provides an electronic device which includes a housing,
`a user interface provided on the housing, a wireless com-
`munication circuitdisposed in the housing and configured
`to support wireless communication, a processor dis-
`posed in the housing and electrically connected with the
`user interface and the wireless communication circuit,
`
`and a memory disposed in the housing, electrically con—
`nected with the processor, and storing a plurality of co-
`decs for processing audio data. The memory stores in—
`structions, which when executed, enable the processor
`to establish a first wireless channel with a first external
`
`device using the wireless communication circuit, estab—
`lish a second wireless channel with a second external
`
`10
`
`device using the wireless communication circuit, select
`a codec supported by both the first external device and
`the second external device from among the plurality of
`codecs, process the audio data using the selected codec,
`and transmit the processed audio data to the first external
`device via the fist wireless channel and to the second
`
`15
`
`external device via the second wireless channel using
`the wireless communication circuit.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4O
`
`45
`
`50
`
`{0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure pro—
`vides a non-transitory computer-readable recording me-
`dium that retains a program executable on a computer.
`The program includes executable commands that, when
`executed by a processor, enable the processor to estab—
`lish a first wireless channel with a first external device,
`establish a second wireless channel with a second ex-
`
`ternal device, select a codec supported by the first ex-
`ternal device and the second external device from among
`a plurality of codecs for processing audio data, process
`the audio data using the selected codec, and transmit
`the processed audio data to the first external device via
`the first wireless channel and to the second external de-
`vice via the second wireless channel.
`
`{0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure pro-
`vides an electronic device that includes a housing, a wire-
`less communication circuit disposed in the housing and
`configured to support wireless communication, a proc—
`essor disposed in the housing and electrically connected
`with the wireless communication circuit, and a memory
`disposed in the housing, electrically connected with the
`processor, and storing a plurality of codecs for process-
`ing audio data. The memory stores instructions, which
`when executed, enable the processor to transmit the au—
`dio data processed using a codec selected from among
`the plurality of codecs through a first wireless channel to
`a first external device and a second wireless channel to
`
`a second external device, monitor a retransmission rate
`of the processed audio data through each of the first wire-
`less channel and the second wireless channel, and con-
`trol a bit rate of the processed audio data transmitted
`through each of the first wireless channel and the second
`wireless channel based on a result of the monitoring.
`{0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure pro-
`vides a method for transmitting audio data to multiple
`external devices by an electronic device. Using a wireless
`communication circuit of the electronic device, a first
`wireless channel is established with a first external de-
`
`55
`
`vice. Using the wireless communication circuit, a second
`wireless channel is established with a second external
`
`device. A processor of the electronic device selects a
`codec supported by both the first external device and the
`second external device from among a plurality of codecs
`
`

`

`3
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`4
`
`for processing audio data stored in a memory of the elec-
`tronic device. The processor processes the audio data
`using the selected codec. Using the wireless communi-
`cation circuit, the processed audio data is transmitted to
`the first external device via the first wireless channel and
`to the second external device via the second wireless
`
`channel using the wireless communication circuit.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWlNGS
`
`{0011} The above and other aspects, features, and ad-
`vantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent
`from the following detailed description when taken in con—
`junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
`
`is a diagram illustrating a network environ-
`1
`FlG.
`ment including an electronic device, according to an
`embodiment of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a program mod—
`ule, according to an embodiment of the present dis-
`closure;
`FlG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for trans-
`mitting audio data by an electronic device, according
`to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for selecting
`a codec to process audio data by an electronic de-
`vice, according to an embodiment ofthe present dis-
`closure;
`FlG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for oper-
`ating an electronic device after deactivating an op-
`eration mode for transmitting audio data to multiple
`external devices, according to an embodiment ofthe
`present disclosure;
`FlG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for trans-
`mitting audio data to multiple external devices by an
`electronic device, according to an embodiment of
`the present disclosure;
`FlG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting
`an operation mode to transmit audio data to multiple
`external devices, which is displayed on an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FlG. BB is a diagram illustrating a home screen in a
`state where an operation mode fortransmitting audio
`data to multiple external devices is activated, which
`is displayed on an electronic device, according to an
`embodiment of the present disclosure;
`FlG. 80 is a diagram illustrating a standby screen
`and a lockscreen in a state where an operation mode
`for transmitting audio data to multiple external de—
`vices is activated, which is displayed on an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FlG. SD is a diagram illustrating a status bar that is
`expanded depending on whether an operation mode
`
`for transmitting audio data to multiple external de—
`vices is activated, which is displayed on an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FlG. 8E is a diagram illustrating a volume control
`screen in a state where an operation mode for trans—
`mitting audio data to multiple external devices is ac—
`tivated, which is displayed on an electronic device,
`according to an embodiment of the present disclo-
`sure;
`
`FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for setting
`an operation mode tortransmitting audio data to mul-
`tiple external devices, according to an embodiment
`of the present disclosure;
`FlGS. 1 0A and 1013 are diagrams illustrating a meth—
`od for setting an operation mode for transmitting au—
`dio data to multiple external devices on an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FlG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for reduc—
`ing the transmission speed of audio data transmitted
`to multiple external devices by an electronic device,
`according to an embodiment of the present disclo-
`sure;
`
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for reduc—
`ing the transmission speed of audio data transmitted
`to one of multiple external devices by an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method for in-
`creasing the transmission speed of audio data trans-
`mitted to multiple external devices by an electronic
`device, according to an embodiment of the present
`disclosure;
`FlG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for in-
`creasing the transmission speed ofaudio data trans-
`mitted to one of multiple external devices by an elec-
`tronic device, according to an embodiment of the
`present disclosure;
`FlG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a method for estab-
`lishing a wireless channel with an external device by
`an electronic device, according to an embodiment
`of the present disclosure; and
`FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method for trans-
`mitting audio data to multiple external devices by an
`electronic device, according to an embodiment of
`the present disclosure.
`
`DETAlLED DESCRlPTlON
`
`{0012] Embodiments of the present disclosure are de—
`scribed in detail with reference to the accompanying
`drawings. Similar components are designated by similar
`reference numerals although they are illustrated in dif-
`ferent drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions
`or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid
`obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure.
`{0013] The present disclosure is not limited to the em-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4O
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`

`

`5
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`6
`
`bodiments and the terminology used herein, and all
`changes and/or equivalents or replacements thereto also
`belong to the scope of the present disclosure. it is to be
`understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
`include plural references unless the context clearly dic-
`tates otherwise. As used herein, the terms "A or B" and
`"at least one of A and/or B" may include all possible com-
`binations of A and B. As used herein, the terms "first"
`and "second" may modify various components regard—
`less of importance and/or order and are used to distin-
`guish a componentfrom another without limiting the com-
`ponents. When an element (e.g., a first element) is re-
`ferred to as being (operatively or communicatively) "cou—
`pled with/to" or"connected with/to" another element (e.g.,
`a second element), it can be coupled or connected with/to
`the other element directly or via a third element.
`{0014] As used herein, the terms "configured to (ordes—
`ignated)" may be interchangeably used with other terms,
`such as “suitable for", "capable of’, "modified to", "made
`to", "adapted to“, “able to", or "designed to“ in hardware
`or software in the context. Rather, the term "configured
`to" may mean that a device can perform an operation
`together with another device or part. For example, the
`term “processor configured (or designated) to perform A,
`B, and C" may mean a generic-purpose processor (e.g.,
`a central processing unit (CPU) or application processor
`(AP)) that may perform the operations by executing one
`or more software programs stored in a memory device
`or a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor)
`for performing the operations.
`{0015] Examples of the electronic device, according to
`embodiments of the present disclosure, may include at
`least one of a smartphone, a tablet personal computer
`(PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader,
`a desktop PC, a laptop computer, a netbook computer,
`a workstation, a server, a personal digital assistant
`(FDA), 8 portable multimedia player (PMP), a MP3 play-
`er, a medical device, a camera, or a wearable device.
`The wearable device may include at least one of an ac-
`cessory-type device (e.g., a watch, a ring, a bracelet, an
`anklet, a necklace, glasses, contact lenses, or a head-
`mounted device (HMD)), a fabric— or clothes—integrated
`device (e.g., electronic clothes), a body attaching-type
`device (e.g., a skin pad or tattoo), or a body implantable
`device.
`in some embodiments, examples of the smart
`home appliance may include at least one of a television,
`a digital video disk (DVD) player, an audio player, a re-
`frigerator, an air conditioner, a cleaner, an oven, a mi-
`crowave oven, a washer, a drier, an air cleaner, a set—
`top box, a home automation control panel, a security con-
`trol panel, a TV box, a gaming console, an electronic
`dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, or an elec-
`tronic picture frame.
`{0016] According to an embodiment ofthe present dis-
`closure, the electronic device may include at least one
`ofvarious medical devices (e.g., diverse portable medical
`measuring devices (a blood sugar measuring device, a
`heartbeat measuring device, or a body temperature
`
`measuring device), a magnetic resource angiography
`(MRA) device, a magnetic resource imaging (MRl) de—
`vice, a computed tomography (CT) device, an imaging
`device, or an ultrasonic device), a navigation device, a
`global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, an
`event data recorder (EDR), a flight data recorder (FDR),
`an automotive infotainment device, an sailing electronic
`device (e.g., a sailing navigation device or a gyro com-
`pass), avionics, security devices, vehicular head units,
`industrial or home robots, drones, automatic teller ma—
`chines (ATMs), point of sales (P08) devices, or lnternet
`ofthings (loT) devices (e.g., a light bulb, various sensors,
`a sprinkler, a fire alarm, a thermostat, a street light, a
`toaster, fitness equipment, a hot watertank, a heater, or
`a boiler).
`{0017] According to various embodiments of the dis—
`closure, examples of the electronic device may at least
`one of part of a piece of furniture, building/structure or
`vehicle, an electronic board, an electronic signature re—
`ceiving device, a projector, or various measurement de—
`vices (e.g., devices for measuring water, electricity, gas,
`or electromagnetic waves). The electronic device may
`be flexible or may be a combination of the above-enu-
`merated electronic devices. The electronic device is not
`
`limited to the above-listed embodiments. As used herein,
`the term "user" may denote a human or another device
`(e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic device) using the
`electronic device.
`
`{0018] Referring to FlG. 1, according to an embodi—
`ment of the present disclosure, an electronic device 101
`is included in a network environment 100. The electronic
`
`device 101 includes a bus 110, a processor 120, a mem-
`ory 130, an input/output interface 150, a display 160, and
`a communication interface 170. ln some embodiments,
`the electronic device 101 may exclude at least one of the
`components or may add one or more other components.
`The bus 1 10 may include a circuit for connecting the com-
`ponents 110 to 170 with one another and transferring
`communications (e.g., control messages or data) be—
`tween the components. The processor 120 may include
`one or more of a CPU, an AF, or a communication proc-
`essor (CP). The processor 120 may control at least one
`of the other components of the electronic device 101,
`and/or perform an operation or data processing relating
`to communication.
`
`{0019] The memory 130 may include a volatile and/or
`non-volatile memory. For example, the memory 130 may
`store instructions or data related to at least one other
`
`component of the electronic device 101. According to an
`embodiment of the present disclosure, the memory 130
`may store software and/or a program 140. The program
`140 includes a kernel 141, middleware 143, an applica—
`tion programming interface (APl) 145, and/or an applica-
`tion program (or application) 147. At least a portion of
`the kernel 141, middleware 143, or APl 145 may be de—
`noted an operating system (08). For example, the kernel
`141 may control or manage system resources (e.g., the
`bus 110, the processor 120, or the memory 130) used to
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4O
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`

`

`7
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`8
`
`perform operations or functions implemented in other
`programs (e.g., the middleware 143, the APl 145, or the
`application 147). The kernel 141 may provide an interface
`that allows the middleware 143, the APl 145, or the ap—
`plication 147 to access the individual components of the
`electronic device 101 to control or manage the system
`resources.
`
`{0020} The middleware 143 may function as a relay to
`allow the API 145 or the application 147 to communicate
`data with the kernel 141, for example. Further, the mid-
`dleware 143 may process one or more task requests re-
`ceived from the application 147 in order of priority. For
`example, the middleware 143 may assign a priority of
`using system resources (e.g., the bus 110, the processor
`120, or the memory 130) of the electronic device 101 to
`at least one of the applications 147 and process one or
`more task requests. The API 145 is an interface allowing
`the application 147 to control functions provided from the
`kernel 141 or the middleware 143. For example, the AP!
`145 may include at least one interface or function (e.g.,
`a command) for filing control, window control, image
`processing or text control. For example, the input/output
`interface 150 may transfer instructions or data inputfrom
`the user or other external device to other component(s)
`of the electronic device 101 or may output instructions
`or data received from other component(s) of the elec-
`tronic device 101 to the user or other external devices.
`
`{0021} The display 160 may include, for example, a
`liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED)
`display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display,
`a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) display, or
`an electronic paper display. The display 1 60 maydisplay,
`for example, various contents (e.g., text, images, videos,
`icons, or symbols) to the user. The display 160 may in-
`clude a touchscreen and may receive, for example, a
`touch, gesture, proximity or hovering input using an elec—
`tronic pen or a body portion ofthe user. Forexample, the
`communication interface 170 may set up communication
`betweenthe electronic device 101 and an external device
`
`(e.g., a firstexternal device 102, a second external device
`104, or a server 106). For example, the communication
`interface 170 may be connected with the network 162
`through wireless or wired communication to communi-
`cate with the external device (e.g., the second external
`device 104 or the server 106).
`{0022} The wireless communication may include cel-
`lular communication, which uses at least one of, for ex-
`ample, long term evolution (LTE), long term evolution—
`advanced (LTE-A), code division multiple access (CD—
`MA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA),
`universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS),
`wireless broadband (WiBro), and global system for mo-
`bile communication (GSlVl). According to an embodiment
`of the present disclosure, the wireless communication
`may include at least one of, for example, wireless—fidelity
`(Wi—Fi), light-fidelity (Li-Fl), bluetooth, bluetooth low pow-
`er (BLE), zigbee, near-field communication (NFC), mag-
`netic secure transmission (MST), radio frequency (RF),
`
`and body area network (BAN), as denoted by reference
`numeral 164 of HG. 1. According to an embodiment of
`the present disclosure, the wireless communication may
`include global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The
`GNSS may be, for example, global positioning system
`(GPS), global navigation satellite system (Glonass), Bei—
`dou navigation satellite system (Beidou) or Galileo, or
`the European global satellite-based navigation system.
`Hereinafter, the terms "GPS" and "GNSS" may be inter-
`changeably used. The wired connection may include at
`least one of, forexample, universal serial bus (USB), high
`definition multimedia interface (HDMl), recommended
`standard (RS)-232, power line communication (PLC),
`and plain old telephone service (POTS). The network
`162 may include at least one of telecommunication net—
`works, for example, a computer network (e.g., local area
`network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)), lnternet, or
`a telephone network.
`{0023] The first and second external devices 102 and
`104 each may be a device of the same or a different type
`as/from the electronic device 101. According to an em-
`bodim ent of the present disclosure, all or some of oper-
`ations executed on the electronic device 101 may be ex-
`ecuted on another or multiple other electronic devices
`102 and 104, and/orthe server 106. According to an em—
`bodiment ofthe present disclosure, when the electronic
`device 101 should perform some function or service au-
`tomatically or at a request, the electronic device 101,
`instead of executing the function or service on its own,
`may request another device to perform at least some
`functions associated therewith. The other electronic de-
`
`vice may execute the requested functions or additional
`functions and transfer a result of the execution to the
`
`electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may
`provide a requested function or service by processing
`the received result as it is or additionally. To that end, a
`cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server
`computing technique may be used, for example.
`{0024] According to an embodiment of the present dis—
`closure, the components (e.g., the bus 110, the proces-
`sor 120, the memory 130, the input/output interface 150,
`and/or the communication interface 170) of the electronic
`device 101 may be placed in the housing of the electronic
`device 101, and at least some components (e.g., the dis-
`play 160) may be provided on the housing. The compo-
`nents of the electronic device 101 may electrically be
`connected together.
`{0025] According to an embodiment of the present dis-
`closure, the memory 130 may store a plurality of codecs
`for processing audio data. The plurality of codecs may
`be used to process the audio data to stream the audio
`data to other electronic devices connected via bluetooth
`
`communication using the advanced audio distribution
`profile (AZDP). For example, the plurality of codecs may
`include a low complexity subband coding (SEC) codec,
`an MPEG-1 audio layer-3 (MP3) codec, an advanced au—
`dio coding (AAC) codec, an adaptive transform acoustic
`coding (ATRAC) codec, an ath codec, or a scalable
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4O
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`

`

`9
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`10
`
`codec.
`
`{0026] According to an embodiment ofthe present dis-
`closure, the memory 130 may include instructions ena-
`bling the processor 120 to operate. For example, the
`memory 130 may include instructions enabling the proc-
`essor 120 to control other components of the electronic
`device 101 and to interwork with other external devices
`
`102 and 104 or the server 106. The processor 120 may
`control other components of the electronic device 101
`and interwork with the other external devices 102 and
`104 or the server 106 based on the instructions stored
`
`in the memory 130. Hereinafter, operations of the elec-
`tronic device 101 are described based on each compo—
`nent of the electronic device 101. The instructions ena-
`
`bling the components to operate may be stored in the
`memory 130.
`{0027] According to an embodiment ofthe present dis-
`closure, the processor 120 may establish a first wireless
`channel and a second wireless channel with the first ex-
`ternal device 102 and the second external device 104
`
`using the communication interface 170. For example, the
`first and second external devices 102 and 104 may be
`electronic devices supporting Bluetooth, for example, a
`headset and a speaker which are capable of playing au-
`dio. For example, the processor 120 may establish blue-
`tooth connections with the first and second external de-
`vices 102 and 104 and establish the first and second
`
`wireless channels for transmitting audio data.
`{0028] According to an embodiment ofthe present dis-
`closure, the processor 120 may select one codec sup-
`ported by the first and second external devices 102 and
`104 from among the plurality of codecs stored in the
`memory 130. The processor 120 may select one codec
`supported by the first and second external devices 102
`and 104 while maintaining connections with the first and
`second external devices 102 and 104. For example, the
`processor 120 may select one codec that both the first
`and second external devices 102 and 104 support among
`the plurality of codecs (8.9., an 880 codec, an MP3 co-
`dec, an AAC codec, an ATRAC codec, an ath codec,
`or a scalable codec).
`{0029]
`For example, in the operation of establishing
`the first and second wireless channels, the processor
`120 may receive information about at least one codec
`that is supported by each ofthe first and second external
`devices 102 and 104 from the first and second external
`
`devices 102 and 104. The processor 120 may identify at
`least one codec that both the first and second external
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4O
`
`45
`
`devices 102 and 104 support of the plurality of codecs
`based on the received information.
`
`50
`
`For example, where only one of the plurality of
`{0030]
`codecs is supported by the first and second external de-
`vices 102 and 104, the processor 120 may use the codec
`in processing (e.g. , encoding) audio data fortransmission
`to the first and second external devices 102 and 104.
`
`55
`
`may select one of the plurality of codecs that the first and
`second external devices 102 and 104 support based on
`the priorities of the plurality of codecs stored in the mem—
`ory 130. The processor 120 may use the selected codec
`in processing (e.g., encoding) audio data for transmission
`to the first and second external devices 102 and 104.
`
`For example, the priorities of the plurality of co—
`{0032]
`decs may be designated based on at least one of the
`compression rate, degree of loss in sound quality due to
`compression, whether it is possible to vary the bit rate
`fortransmitting audio data by controlling the compression
`rate, or perceptual evaluation audio quality (PEAQ).
`{0033] According to an embodimentof the present dis-
`closure, the processor 120 may process (e.g., encode)
`audio data using the selected one of the plurality of co-
`decs. For example, the processor 120 may encode the
`audio data using the selected codec.
`{0034] According to an embodimentof the present dis-
`closure, the processor 120 may transmit the processed
`audio data through the firstand second wireless channels
`to the first and second external devices 102 and 104 us-
`
`ing the communication interface 170. The first and sec-
`ond external devices 102 and 104 may receive the proc-
`essed audio data, process (e.g., decode), and play the
`processed audio data with the same codec as the select—
`ed one.
`
`{0035} As another example, one ofthe first and second
`external devices 102 and 104 may control functions re—
`lated to the playback ofaudio data ofthe electronic device
`101. For example, the first and second external devices
`102 and 104 may control the audio data playback—related
`functions of the electronic device 101, such as, for ex-
`ample, starting or pausing the playback of audio data.
`{0036] According to an embodiment of the present dis—
`closure, the processor 120 may monitor the environment
`ofthe wireless channel. For example, the processor 120
`may monitor the environment ofthe wireless channel with
`the data retransmission rate through the wireless chan—
`nel. The following description focuses primarily on mon—
`itoring wireless channel environments with the data re-
`transmission rate through the wireless channel. Howev-
`er, embodiments ofthe present disclosure are not limited
`thereto. Other methods are also available to monitorwire—
`
`less channel environments. For example, the processor
`120 may monitor the wireless channel environment
`through, for example, the presence or absence of data
`in the buffer for storing data to be transmitted through
`the wireless channel orflow control information received
`
`through the wireless channel.
`{0037] According to an embodiment ofthe present dis-
`closure, the processor 120 may control at least one of a
`first bit rate for transmitting the processed audio data
`through the first wireless channel or a second bit rate for
`transmitting the processed audio data through the sec-
`ond wireless channel based on the results of the moni-
`
`{0031] As another example, where multiple codecs of
`the plurality of codecs are supported by the first and sec-
`ond external devices 102 and 104, the processor 120
`
`toring. For example, the processor 120 may control the
`first bit rate based on at least one of a bit rate range
`designated for the selected codec or the second bit rate.
`
`

`

`1?
`
`EP 3 379 853 A1
`
`12
`
`The processor 120 may control the second bit rate based
`on at least one of a bit rate range designated for the
`selected codec or the first bit rate.
`
`For example, the processor t20 may control at
`{0038]
`least one of the first bit rate or the second bit rate, con-
`trolling at leastone ofthe transmission speed ofthe proc-
`essed audio data through the first wireless channel or
`the transmission speed of the processed audio data
`through the second wireless channel.
`{0039]
`For example, th